American bodybuilding legend Frank Zane has cemented his status as one of the greatest athletes in the history of the sport. Despite moving on from professional competition, he contributes to the community with the vast knowledge gained from his decades of experience. In a recent post made on Instagram, Zane shared a protein drink, which he used as a convenient way to replace meals without losing nutrients.
Frank Zane gained a passion for bodybuilding in his teenage years. He rose to prominence with his insane muscle mass, symmetry, and overall proportions. He displayed an aesthetic package with wide shoulders and an accentuated v-taper that made him stand out from the competition. After five consistently strong performances, Zane secured his first Sandow trophy at the 1977 Mr. Olympia and enjoyed a commanding reign that resulted in three victories.
Besides bodybuilding, Zane taught mathematics and chemistry. His educational background combined with his high consumption of amino acids at a time they were not commonly used earned him the nickname ‘The Chemist.’
Zane’s impact on the sport is palpable to this day. Former Mr. Olympia Samir Bannout encouraged rising sensation Michal Krizo to follow in the footsteps of Zane. He advised him to enhance his abilities on stage with intense posing practice in the build-up to the 2022 Mr. Olympia. Bannout later advised fan favorite Nick Walker to train posing under Zane to improve his chances of winning the 2023 Mr. Olympia.
Zane believes modern competitors might be rushing their progress by overusing steroids. He called on the athletes to get their blood work done and stay on top of their health instead of simply taking drugs to get big quickly. On the same note, he also cautioned against gaining weight too quickly as it could have an adverse effect on their symmetry and aesthetic look. He suggested focusing on building muscle in the calves and forearms to enhance the proportional look even more.
The 81-year-old adopted a low carbohydrate diet along with fast walking to achieve his impeccable physique in his heyday. Given how strict he was with his diet, he never went over 200 pounds even in the offseason. He revealed he never took diuretics to avoid losing excess water and utilized sunbathing to get dry.
Frank Zane laid out the advantages of using stretching to boost recovery in between sets. He recommended holding each stretch for about 15-20 seconds after a set to relax your heart rate and stay warm. Zane also argued staying peaked for a long time could hurt an athlete in the long run. He advocates peaking for a short time to reduce the stress it puts on the body.
Frank Zane Shares Convenient Meal Replacement Protein Drink to Get All Your Nutrients
In a recent Instagram post, Frank Zane shared a convenient protein drink to replace meals while keeping his nutrients steady.
“A protein drink is a meal replacement where you get protein, carbs, some fats, fiber, you sip it slowly and your body digests it like a meal,” said Zane. “A protein drink is a convenient way to get the effect of eating something by drinking it. You can swallow vitamins and minerals with it too.”
Frank Zane theorized he would find a home in the Classic Physique category instead of the Men’s Open division if he competed today. Considering the mass monsters in the Open, he believes he’d need to gain about 30 pounds to be competitive.
Zane spilled the beans on the training regimen that helped him bag three Sandow trophies. He would regularly take photos of himself to track progress and followed a three-way split routine.
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His latest offering will inspire many athletes and fitness fans to chug their nutrients with their protein shakes when they’re short on time for a meal.
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